Boras to meet with Mariners about Fields soon

There may finally be some movement on the Josh Fields front after months of inaction.

I just ran into agent Scott Boras five minutes ago in the corridors of the St. Regis hotel at the winter meetings.

Boras said he and new Mariner general manager Jack Zduriencik have plans to meet relatively early in the day. Fields will be one of the prime topics of conversation.

Fields, a right-handed reliever, led the University of Georgia to the College World Series this season as a senior, then was taken with the 20th pick of the first round by the Mariners in the June draft.

Although some negotiations took place with Mariner exectutive Bart Waldman speaking for Seattle, things seemed seemed to slow down once then general manager Bill Bavasi was fired less than two weeks after the draft.

The Mariners had been looking to sign Fields, who is said to be just about big-league ready, for $1.5 million in contracts and signing bonuses. The Fields/Boras camp has been holding out for a package worth about $2 million.

Zduriencik seems to have the same high opinion of Fields that former drafting guru Bob Fontaine had, saying Tuesday ”In terms of ability, he’s a first-round draft pick.”

Even though Fields and duriencik seem to be on the same page about Fields, een if they strike some accord, it could take some time for the details to be written into a contract. If a deal is signed, it’s likely Fields would get an invitation to spring training.